A pro education group known as Save Public Education Campaign has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take over negotiation with the Academic Staff Union University (ASUU) to bring an end to the lingering strike action by the academic union.
The group through a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Vivian Bello and Co-Convener, Comrade Dimeji Macaulay on Monday expressed concern over what they described as irresponsive attitude by the federal government towards the striking lecturers adding that intervention from the highest office could go a long way to address it.
According to the group; “The Save-Public-Education Campaign is deeply saddened by this situation, and moreso, the lackadaisical attitude and body language of the relevant authorities concerned in this matter.
“We are also alarmed by the negative resort to a divide and rule tactic by the government negotiators on this strike, whereby they are singling out medical lecturers alone for payment of salaries instead of broadly and comprehensively attending to the salary and other key issues the striking academics have raised.
“We hold this as a false strategy as it is counter-productive and will only lead to further prolongation of the quagmire; Universities and Tertiary institutions are organic structural habitats and academic medics do not and cannot function in it, in isolation.
“We want to make it clear that it is illegal for government to stop the salaries of striking Tertiary Institutions’ Unions. It is not allowed under the Nigerian Labour Laws and we strongly charge government to end this illegality.
The group however charged President Muhammadu Buhari to personally takeover and lead the negotiations with the striking lecturers which they believe will quickly bring solution and end the lingering deadlock.
They further threathen to embark on a nationwide mass protest if nothing is done so as to impress it on the Nigerian government the need for students to resume school.
The pro education group also enjoin the country’s two national Labour Congresses; the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to follow through with its pronouncement on Day of Mass Action to solidarize with ASUU.
